Brian Payne is from   Co.Down, Northern Ireland, and currently lives near  Killyleagh, Co.Down.

He was taught to play the Lute by Tom Finucane. He studied  the repertoire for Lute and Orpharion with Tom Finucane in London. These sudies have been complimented with further tuition from Jakob Lindberg.

His interest lies in the lute manuscripts and printed  talatures of the 16th and early 17th centuries, speciallising in those from English and Irish sources.

Reveiws of Brian Payne's  playing:

"The Lute playing of Brian Payne showed considerable musical ability and a fine technical mastery of his instrument." Down Recorder

"No praise could be too high for the quite beauty of Brian Payne's Lute support" Rathcol Belfast Telegraph